REASONABLE REDESIGN

My Dated Master Bath

January 23, 2015

The Master Bathroom was added to our house in 1996 as part of a big renovation by the prior owner. When we moved in nine years later, it still looked pretty good to me! All I had to do was paint the walls, add curtains to the oddly placed French doors directly across from the glass shower (hello neighbors) and buy towels to match everything.

The one thing I really didn’t like was the taupe/black tile floor. I am not a huge fan of taupe, so I had to work around it and decided to paint the walls black and everything else white. For the record, it is not a good idea to have a black bathroom where you put on makeup because you come out looking like a circus clown.

I was also stuck with this giant tub. I am not a bath person, but my contractor told me the tub weighed 800,000 pounds and would be a nightmare to get out of the room. The doorway to the master bath is really small (24″ across) and the tub is 30″ across so we would have to cantilever it off the side of the house to get it out. No thanks.

Favorite 20 year-old soap dish

Right after the holidays, I walked into the master bath and suddenly everything looked really tired. Time for a facelift. I was still stuck with the taupe/black tile floor because there was radiant heat under it and it would cost a fortune to mess with all of that, so (again) I keep the floor!

First order of business is a new double vanity. This one is falling apart.

This is the look I want to replace it with. Since I have to work with the tile floor, I want the rest of the bathroom clean and modern.

For the top, I want to do a white stone. This granite is really durable and will also pick up a few of the colors from the floor. Right now we have a white Corian vanity top with molded sinks. Bye!!!!

Kallista Sink

Nice, new porcelain sinks.

The old faucet on the left and the style I want to replace it with on the right.

To wallpaper or to paint….. The black walls have to go, but painting the bathroom white or cream seems really boring. Here is a selection of wallpaper from Quadrille. Or grass cloth on the walls? Black and white wallpaper? What do you think?

I also have to replace the white, ruffled SHOWER curtains from Anthropologie that I have for privacy on the French doors. They definitely go into the category of “what was I thinking?” I want to do one modern roller shade across the French doors in one of these colors. I like the middle one, but am open to suggestions!

Last piece, a new sconce. This is the one we have.

I want a new, modern sconce over the sinks. Maybe a double version of this?

That’s it. All of the trim will be painted white to match the vanity, tub and wall tile.

Stay tuned for the final product! Please comment with your opinions too, I need them…

the wry home

My Dated Master Bath was last modified: April 25th, 2017 by Elizabeth Dowling

Hi Liz
You are well on your way! I like the updated vanity design and transitional hardware. A light quartzite top that complements the floor will be soft and bridge the white subway and taupe in the floor. Check out updated vinyl wall coverings from Philip Jeffries and Thibaut and you are smart to get away from the black wall color. I also like the bamboo stalk wall paper from Clarrnce House that might work. Wall paper in a bathroom does work with proper wall preparation and a skilled installer.
You and your readers should be familiar with Houzz as it is the ideal site for any renovation/refresh project! Be true to what makes you happy and the space will come out great!
Don’t forget to KISS! (Keep It Simple Stupid)!
Have fun!
Missie

Love the idea of grass cloth as long as ok w moisture and am mad for anything w bamboo – was that fabric? I would just do a sheer for French doors – privacy (British pronunciation) but still get light through. Can’t wait for final product. Jealous of that tub!